Dip coating machine

ABSTRACT

A dip coating machine: WHEREIN QUICK RELEASE OF DIP FORMS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY MEANS OF A RAPIDLY REMOVABLE PIN, WHEREIN THE DIP FORM MAY BE ORIENTED ABOUT ITS ROTATIONAL AXIS BY MEANS OF AT LEAST TWO PINIONS MOUNTED TO A SINGLE AXLE, ONE END OF THE AXLE BEING MOUNTED TO THE FORM, AT LEAST ONE OF THE PINIONS HAVING A TOOTHLESS PERIPHERAL PORTION AND A RACK MOUNTED TO THE FRAME FOR EACH PINION SO THAT MOVEMENT OF THE FORM ALONG THE RACK CAUSES THE PINIONS TO ROLL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE RACK THUS CAUSING THE FORM TO ROTATE AND SO THAT A PINION HAVING A TOOTHLESS PORTION WILL STOP ROTATING AT A PREDETERMINED POSITION WHEN IT HAS ROTATED SO THAT ITS TOOTHLESS PORTION FACES ITS RACK, PROVIDED THE OTHER RACKS HAVE GAPS AT THAT POINT; AND WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF FORMS MAY BE LOWERED INTO AND REMOVED FROM A DIPPING SOLUTION BY A SINGLE MECHANISM WHILE PERMITTING EACH FORM TO BE INDIVIDUALLY ROTATED BY MEANS OF A SEPARATE AXLE FOR EACH FORM PASSING THROUGH A MOVABLE BLOCK, EACH AXLE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL ROTATING DEVICE.

Primary Examiner-Mervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Leo MillsteinAttorney-Leigh B. Taylor, Michael L. Dunn, Paul R. Wylie and Harold R.Beck I United States Patent [151 3,673,984 Coulombe 1 July 4, 1972 [54]DIP COATING MACHINE 57 ABSTRACT [72] Inventor: Raymond Francis Coulombe,Milford, A dip coating machine:

Conn. wherein quick release of dip forms is accomplished by means of arapidly removable pin, [73] Asslgnee' Dan Industries Los Angeles Califwherein the dip form may be oriented about its rotational [22] Filed:Aug. 28, 1970 axis by means of at least two pinions mounted to a singleaxle, one end of the axle being mounted to the form, at [21] 67381 leastone of the pinions having a toothless peripheral portion and a rackmounted to the frame for each pinion so i 1 --l 3/4 18/423 that movementof the form along the rack causes the [51] lnt.Cl. ..B05c 3/00 pinionsto roll in their respective rack thus causing the [58] FIG! of Search..1 18/425, 416, 54, 238, form to rotate and so that a pinion having atoothless por- 214/17 17 95 tion will stop rotating at a predeterminedposition when it has rotated so that its toothless portion faces itsrack, pro- References vided the other racks have gaps at that point; and

wherein a plurality of forms may be lowered into and UNITED STATESPATENTS removed from a dipping solution by a single mechanism 2,704,9933/1955 Davis ..118/425 while permitting each form to be individuallyrotated by 2,731,668 1/1956 Miner ..118/425 means of a separate axle foreach form passing through a 3,382,844 5/1968 Kumpf ..l18/425 movableblock, each axle being provided with an in- 3,256,567 6/1966 Bjorck ..118/425 dividual rotating device.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mr COATING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention concerns an apparatus forforming plastic articles and relates more particularly to a dip coatingapparatus having forms which can be axially oriented automatically andwhich can be easily and readily replaced or removed.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art, dip coating mechanismshave been designed and sold. These mechanisms had serious disadvantages.When the forms had to be removed from the mechanism, bolts or screws hadto be removed and the operation of the mechanisms had to stop. The formswere therefore removable only with the expenditure of a substantialamount of time and effort. Furthermore, a form on prior art mechanismscould not be oriented about its rotational axis. Such orientation isfrequently necessary to permit excess coating material to collect on aparticular portion of the form, to permit-stamping or printing ata'particular position on the form, to pennit removal of an article fromthe form by a uniform method and to permit the forms to have maximumclearance between themselves when they are moving around a curve in theconveyor line. One prior art attempt was made to orient forms about therotational axis by using flat sided rollers which were designed to rollon a track until the flat side of the roller faced the track whenrotation was supposed to stop. In practice the roller slipped along thetrack and proper orientation was not consistently obtained. In addition,both the rollers and the track wore rapidly which made it necessary toshut down the mechanism to replace the track and rollers.

.In prior art mechanisms, a complete set of individually actingmachinery was needed for each of the forms in order to raise and lowerthe forms. The mechanisms which were designed to coat a plurality offorms using a single mechanisms for raising and lowering the forms didnot permit each of the forms to independently rotate or be independentlyoriented about its rotational axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An improved machine for forming dipcoated film articles on a form. The machine includes the followingparts:

a frame;

a carriage;

a form;

means for rotationally mounting the form upon the carriage;

a tank for holding a dipping solution; means attached to the frame andthe carriage for lowering the carriage and form to immerse the form inthe dipping solution; and

means attached to the frame and carriage for removing the form from thedipping solution by raising the carriage.

The machine is improved over prior art machines in that the form may beeasily and rapidly attached and removed without stopping the machine.The structure which permits the easy attachment and removal comprises arod interconnected with the form. The rod fits into an opening in thecarriage and is held in the carriage by an easily removable pin passingthrough a hole in the carriage into a hole in the rod.

The machine is further improved in that the form may be oriented aboutits rotational axis. The axial orientation is accomplished by means ofat least two pinions mounted to a single axle. One end of the axle is inturn mounted to the form. At least one of the pinions has a toothlessperipheral portion, the toothless portion on the pinion being proximateteeth on the other of the pinions. One of the pinions engages a firstrack mounted to the frame and the other of the pinions engages a secondrack mounted to the frame so that movement of the form along the rackcauses the pinions to roll in their respective racks thus causing theform to rotate. A gap in one of the racks will permit the pinion engagedin the other rack to stop rotating when the other pinion has rotated sothat its toothless portion faces its rack. The above apparatus givespositive orientation to the form and minimal wear to the orientingstructure.

The machine is also improved in that a plurality of forms may be loweredinto the dipping solution and removed from the clipping solution by asingle raising and lowering mechanism while permitting each of the formsto be independently rotated or oriented about its rotational axis. Theabove result is accomplished by a combination of a rod extending fromthe carriage, a block attached to the rod and a plurality of axles forholding the forms. Each of the axles is rotationally mounted through oneof a plurality of holes in the block. One end of each of the axles isprovided with a plurality of rotating devices such pinions for operationin a plurality of tracks which may be pinion racks, to permit individualrotation and orientation of the forms as previously discussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational plan viewof the improved dip coating machine;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view;

FIG. 3 is a top schematic view of the entire dip coating machine;

FIG. 4'is a rear perspective view of the rotating device of the machinewhich permitsorientation of the dip coating forms;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational plan view of the machine; and

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the combination of rod, block, axles,pinions and forms which permit individual rotation of the forms.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment of this invention asseen in FIG. 1, 4 and 6 each of two forms 10 and 11 are attached to oneend of axle 54. Each axle is rotationally mounted through a bore 38 inblock 20. Pinions 12 and 13; and 67 and 68 are attached proximate theother end 49 of each axle 54 so that rotation of any of the pinionsrotates one of the axles 54 which in turn rotates form 10 or 11. Pinions12 and 13 operate in pinion racks 33 and 34 and Pinions 67 and 68operate in racks 31 and 32. Racks 31 and 32 are attached to framesegment 62 which is in turn attached to frame 39. Racks 33 and 34 areattached to frame segment 30 which is attached to frame 39. Each pinionis provided with peripheral teeth 42 and at least one of the pinions isprovided with a toothless peripheral portion 43.

As seen in FIG. 6 one end of a rod 14 is secured in hold 37 in block 20.The axis of hole 37 is parallel to bores 38 and hole 37 passes throughthe center of block 20. Rod 14 is provided with a roller 15 which asseen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 rolls or slides on rail 22 which is in turnsecured to frame segment 63. The other end of rod 14 is provided with ahole 50 and a projection 17 and slips into an opening 51 provided in arm29. Arm 29 is provided with a hole 52 aligned with hole 50. A readilyremovable pin 18 passes through hole 52 into hole 50 thus securelyholding rod 14 in arm 29. Arm 29 is further provided with slot 16 whichaccepts projection 17. The engagement of projection 17 in slot 16further increases the strength and stability of the connection of rod 14with arm 29.

Arm 29 is pivotally mounted to bracket 21 so that when the elevation ofrail 22 increases arm 29, along with rod 14, block 20, and forms 10 and11, pivots upwardly and when the elevation of rail 22 decreases pivotsdownwardly. The combination of bracket 21 and 29 form carriage 40.

Bracket 21 is bolted to slide 35 which in turn is provided with fourguide rollers 53. Slide 35 fits into carrier 27 which is provided withguide channels 25. Guide rollers 53 operate in channels 25 so that slide35 can be easily raised and lowered within carrier 27. Carrier 27 isprovided with guide slot 26. An axle 55 having one end attached to slide35 passes through slot 26. On the other end of axle 55 is mounted slideroller 36. Slide roller 36 operates on track 28 so that as track 28becomes lower, slide 35 becomes lower which in turn lowers carriage 40and fonns l0 and 11 unless forms 10 and 11 are otherwise being supportedby rail 22 or racks 31 or 32. Track 28 is rigidly secured to frame 39.

Carrier 27 is provided with upper roller bearings 56 and 57 and lowerroller bearings 58 and 59 which operate on upper track 60 and lowertracks 61 and 66 respectively. Tracks 60, 61 and 66 are permanentlysecured to frame 39. Carrier 27 is transported along the frame on tracks60, 61 and 66 by means of chains 23 and 24 which are attached to thebottom and top of the carrier respectively. Chains 23 and 24 areoperated by a drive means (not shown).

In operation chains 23 and 24 pull carrier 27 along frame 39. Track 28is at different heights at diflerent positions. Slide roller 36 rides ontrack 28 and changes in elevational position with track 28 as carrier 27moves along the frame. Slide 35 is mounted in the canier and is attachedto slide roller 36. Slide 35, therefore, also changes in elevationalposition with the position of track 28. (See FIGS. 2 and 5). As theposition of slide 35 changes, the elevational position of bracket 21,arm 29, rod 14, block 20 and forms and 11 change correspondinglyprovided that the forms are not otherwise supported by rail 22, rack 31or rack 33 at the particular position.

As carrier 27 transports forms 10 and 11 along frame 39, pinions 67 and68 will engage racks 31 and 32 respectively causing form 11 to rotateand pinions 12 and 13 will engage racks 33 and 34 respectively causingform 10 to rotate. In the preferred embodiment each of the pinions has atoothless portion 43 which will permit the form to which the pinion isattached to stop rotating when the toothless portion faces the rackwhich is meant to mate with the particular pinion. Ifthe other pinionattached to the particular form is engaged with its rack, the form willcontinue to rotate; however, if there is a gap 44 in the rack of theother pinion the form will stop rotatmg.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the apparatus transports the forms throughvarious operations. Chains 24 and 25 transport carrier 27 to coagulantdip tank 66 where frame segments 62 and 63 have not been placedpermitting arm 29 to pivot on bolt 19 which holds arm 29 on bracket 21so that forms 10 and 11 hang in a substantially vertical position. Attank 66, track 28 slants downward so that slide roller 36 rolls down thetrack which results in the lowering of carriage 40 and forms 10 and 11.The forms are lowered far enough to immerse them in the coagulant whichis in dip tank 66.

Track 28 then slants upward and as carrier 27 is transported by chains23 and 24, roller 36 rolls up track 28 thus lifting forms 10 and 11 fromthe tank. As carrier 27 is transported to coating tank 41, track 28again slants downward and the forms are immersed in dipping solution 64.Track 28 again slants upward and the coated forms are removed fromcoating tank 41.

Frame segments 62 and 63 are placed after the coating tank. Rail 22attached to frame segment 63 slants upward so that roller rolls up rail22 to place forms 10 and 1 1 in a substantially horizontal position. Atthe same time, racks 31 and 32 engage pinions 67 and 68 causing form 11to rotate and racks 33 and 34 attached to frame segment engage pinions12 and 13 causing form 10 to rotate. The rotation of the form assists inobtaining a uniform distribution of coating material over the forms. Agap 44 is then provided in racks 31 and 34. Pinions 12 and 68 continueto rotate in racks 33 and 32 respectively until toothless peripheralportions 43 of pinions l2 and 68 face racks 33 and 32 respectively atwhich point the pinions and attached forms stop rotating. In the case ofthe particular forms shown, the forms will be oriented in a palm upposition when rotation stops.

The forms are then lifted to a substantially vertical position by alifter (not shown). Excess coating material because of the orientationin the horizontal and vertical positions will run down the back of theglove form shown thus preventing a coating build-up on the palm of theglove where a thin coating is necessary to permit good epidermalperception.

Rail 22 again engages roller 15 while the forms are in a substantiallyvertical position. As the carrier 27 moves along frame 39, rail 22slopes downward so the forms again reach a substantially horizontalposition. Racks 31, 32, 33 and 34 again engage pinions 67, 68, 12 and 13respectively and the forms again begin to rotate as they pass throughcuring oven 69. The cured articles on the forms continue to rotate asthey pass through spray washer 70 and dryer oven 7].

Racks 32 and 33 are then provided with gaps 44 and pinions 13 and 67continue rotating until their toothless portions 43 face racks 34 and 31respectively when the pinions and forms stop rotating. The forms willnow be oriented in a palm down position so the cured articles on theforms can be uniformly printed on the backs of the article by printer72. The racks again engage the pinions and the forms begin to rotate asa bead is placed on the bottom of the article by beader 73. The formsare again oriented so that the cured articles can be uniformly strippedat stripping station 74.

The forms are then rotated as they are washed in washer 75 and they areagain ready to be dipped into coagulant dip tank 66.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for forming film articles comprising:

a frame;

a carriage;

a form;

means for rotationally mounting said fonn upon said carriage;

a tank for holding a dipping solution;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for lowering saidcarriage and said mounted form so said form is immersed in said dippingsolution to coat said form;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for raising said carriageso said coated form is removed from said dipping solution; and,

means attached to said frame for moving said form along said frametoward and away from said tank;

the improvement comprising at least two racks mounted on said frame andat least two pinions mounted on said form, each of said pinions havingperipherally located teeth, at least one of said pinions having atoothless peripheral portion, the toothless portion on said pinion beingproximate teeth on the other pinion; one of said pinions engaging one ofsaid racks and the other of said pinions engaging the other of saidracks so that the movement of said form along said frame causes saidpinions and said form to rotate and so that a pinion having a toothlessperipheral portion engaged in a first of said racks will stop rotatingat a predetermined position when the pinion rotates so that itstoothless portion faces and is disengaged said first rack and when thereis a gap in the second of said racks.

2. In a machine for fonning film articles comprising:

a frame;

a carriage;

a form;

means for rotationally mounting said form upon said carriage;

a tank for holding a clipping solution;

means attached to said carriage and said frame for lowering saidcarriage and said mounted form so said form is immersed in said dippingsolution to coat said form;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for raising said carriageso said coated form is removed from said dipping solution and;

means attached to said frame for moving said form along said frametoward and away from said tank;

the improvement comprising a means for rapidly securely engaging saidform upon said machine and easily and rapidly removing said form fromsaid machine, said means including a structure for connecting said formto said machine comprising a rod which fits into an opening formed insaid carriage, said rod being secured in said carriage opening solely byan easily removable pin passing through a hole in said carriage, saidhole being slightly larger than the size of the cross section of saidpin, said pin further extending into a second hole in the side of saidrod so that when said pin is removed, said rod can be easily pulled fromsaid opening thus removing said form from said carriage.

3. The improvement in claim 2 wherein said structure further comprisesat least one projection extending from said rod, said projectionslipping easily into a slot formed in said carriage when said rod isinserted into said carriage opening.

4. In a machine for forming film articles comprising:

a frame;

a carriage;

a form;

means for rotationally mounting said form upon said carriage;

a tank for holding a dipping solution;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for lowering saidcarriage and said mounted form so said form is immersed in said dippingsolution to coat said form;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for raising said carriageso said coated form is removed from said dipping solution and;

means attached to said frame for moving said form along said frametoward and away from said tank;

the improvement comprising at least two racks mounted on said frame; atleast two pinions each of said pinions having peripherally locatedteeth; and means for connecting said pinions to said form; at least oneof said pinions having a toothless peripheral portion, the toothlessportion on one of said pinions being proximate teeth on the other ofsaid pinions; one of said pinions engaging one of said racks and theother of said pinions engaging the other of said racks, so that movementof said form along said frame causes said pinions and said form torotate, and so that a gap in one of said racks will permit a pinionhaving a toothless peripheral portion engaged in the other of said racksto stop rotating at a predetermined position when the pinion engaged insaid other rack rotates so that its toothless portion faces said otherrack, and in that said machine is provided with a means for rapidly andsecurely engaging said form upon and easily and rapidly removing saidform from said machine, said means having a structure for connectingsaid form to said machine said structure comprising a rod which fitsinto an opening formed in said carriage, said rod being held in saidcarriage opening by an easily removable pin passing through a hole insaid carriage slightly larger than the cross section of said pin into asimilar hole in the side of said rod.

5. In a machine for forming film articles comprising:

a frame;

a carriage;

a plurality of forms;

means for mounting said forms upon said carriage;

a tank for holding a dipping solution;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for lowering saidcarriage and said mounted forms so said forms are immersed in saiddipping solution to coat said forms;

means attached to said frame and said carriage for raising said carriageso said coated forms are removed from said dipping solution and;

means attached to said forms for moving said forms along said frametoward and away from said tank;

the improvement comprising means for individually rotating each of saidforms upon said carriage, said means comprising a support attached toand extending from said carriage, a block attached to said support, aplurality of axles, one end of each of said axles being attached to oneof said forms, each of said axles projecting through one of a pluralityof holes in said block so each of said forms is able to rotate inrelation to said block, at least one rotating device attached to theother end of each of said axles, a track and means for mounting saidtrack to said frame, said mounting means being located between saidframe and said forms, said rotating device being able to roll along saidtrack causing said rod and said form to rotate. 6. The machine claimedin claim 5 wherein said track is a rack and said rotating device is apinion

1. In a machine for forming film articles comprising: a frame; acarriage; a form; means for rotationally mounting said form upon saidcarriage; a tank for holding a dipping solution; means attached to saidframe and said carriage for lowering said carriage and said mounted formso said form is immersed in said dipping solution to coat said form;means attached to said frame and said carriage for raising said carriageso said coated form is removed from said dipping solution; and, meansattached to said frame for moving said form along said frame toward andaway from said tank; the improvement comprising at least two racksmounted on said frame and at least two pinions mounted on said form,each of said pinions having peripherally located teeth, at least one ofsaid pinions having a toothless peripheral portion, the toothlessportion on said pinion being proximate teeth on the other pinion; one ofsaid pinions engaging one of said racks and the other of said pinionsengaging the other of said racks so that the movement of said form alongsaid frame causes said piniOns and said form to rotate and so that apinion having a toothless peripheral portion engaged in a first of saidracks will stop rotating at a predetermined position when the pinionrotates so that its toothless portion faces and is disengaged said firstrack and when there is a gap in the second of said racks.
 2. In amachine for forming film articles comprising: a frame; a carriage; aform; means for rotationally mounting said form upon said carriage; atank for holding a dipping solution; means attached to said carriage andsaid frame for lowering said carriage and said mounted form so said formis immersed in said dipping solution to coat said form; means attachedto said frame and said carriage for raising said carriage so said coatedform is removed from said dipping solution and; means attached to saidframe for moving said form along said frame toward and away from saidtank; the improvement comprising a means for rapidly securely engagingsaid form upon said machine and easily and rapidly removing said formfrom said machine, said means including a structure for connecting saidform to said machine comprising a rod which fits into an opening formedin said carriage, said rod being secured in said carriage opening solelyby an easily removable pin passing through a hole in said carriage, saidhole being slightly larger than the size of the cross section of saidpin, said pin further extending into a second hole in the side of saidrod so that when said pin is removed, said rod can be easily pulled fromsaid opening thus removing said form from said carriage.
 3. Theimprovement in claim 2 wherein said structure further comprises at leastone projection extending from said rod, said projection slipping easilyinto a slot formed in said carriage when said rod is inserted into saidcarriage opening.
 4. In a machine for forming film articles comprising:a frame; a carriage; a form; means for rotationally mounting said formupon said carriage; a tank for holding a dipping solution; meansattached to said frame and said carriage for lowering said carriage andsaid mounted form so said form is immersed in said dipping solution tocoat said form; means attached to said frame and said carriage forraising said carriage so said coated form is removed from said dippingsolution and; means attached to said frame for moving said form alongsaid frame toward and away from said tank; the improvement comprising atleast two racks mounted on said frame; at least two pinions each of saidpinions having peripherally located teeth; and means for connecting saidpinions to said form; at least one of said pinions having a toothlessperipheral portion, the toothless portion on one of said pinions beingproximate teeth on the other of said pinions; one of said pinionsengaging one of said racks and the other of said pinions engaging theother of said racks, so that movement of said form along said framecauses said pinions and said form to rotate, and so that a gap in one ofsaid racks will permit a pinion having a toothless peripheral portionengaged in the other of said racks to stop rotating at a predeterminedposition when the pinion engaged in said other rack rotates so that itstoothless portion faces said other rack, and in that said machine isprovided with a means for rapidly and securely engaging said form uponand easily and rapidly removing said form from said machine, said meanshaving a structure for connecting said form to said machine saidstructure comprising a rod which fits into an opening formed in saidcarriage, said rod being held in said carriage opening by an easilyremovable pin passing through a hole in said carriage slightly largerthan the cross section of said pin into a similar hole in the side ofsaid rod.
 5. In a machine for forming film articles comprising: a frame;a carriage; a plurality of forms; means for mounting said forms uponsaid carriage; a tank for holding a dipping solution; means attached tosaid frame and said carriage for lowering said carriage and said mountedforms so said forms are immersed in said dipping solution to coat saidforms; means attached to said frame and said carriage for raising saidcarriage so said coated forms are removed from said dipping solutionand; means attached to said forms for moving said forms along said frametoward and away from said tank; the improvement comprising means forindividually rotating each of said forms upon said carriage, said meanscomprising a support attached to and extending from said carriage, ablock attached to said support, a plurality of axles, one end of each ofsaid axles being attached to one of said forms, each of said axlesprojecting through one of a plurality of holes in said block so each ofsaid forms is able to rotate in relation to said block, at least onerotating device attached to the other end of each of said axles, a trackand means for mounting said track to said frame, said mounting meansbeing located between said frame and said forms, said rotating devicebeing able to roll along said track causing said rod and said form torotate.
 6. The machine claimed in claim 5 wherein said track is a rackand said rotating device is a pinion.